Dallas attorney Jamey Newberg has been covering the Texas Rangers, from the big club down through the entire farm system, since 1998. His website can be found at www.newbergreport.com.

NEWBERG REPORT UPDATE — Rangers Trade for Nippert

It appears likely that the final spot on the Rangers pitching staff, which Wes Littleton and Robinson Tejeda have been vying for, has just been filled by trade.

According to a press release issued moments ago by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas has traded Class A righthander Jose Marte to the Diamondbacks for 26-year-old righthander Dustin Nippert, who is out of options.

The 6’8″ Nippert has a 2-3, 6.43 record in three big league seasons, including five starts in the 2005 and 2006 seasons and 36 relief appearances in 2007. In 70 innings, the 2002 15th-rounder has fanned 58 and walked 36. He’s been a tremendous minor league starter (33-25, 3.42 with more than a strikeout per inning) but hasn’t yet converted his promise to consistency on the big league level.

Nippert will have to be on the Rangers’ big league roster as the club breaks camp unless they attempt to slide him through waivers to outright his contract to the minor leagues.

The 24-year-old Marte posted a 5.23 ERA between Bakersfield and Clinton last season.

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